Mexborough and Swinton Times August 1, 1925

Denaby Joiners Thefts.
Lenient Measures in Serious Cases.

A sufferer from consumption, with six children dependent upon him, John White, a joiner, of Doncaster Road, Denaby, told the West Riding magistrates at Doncaster on Saturday that he admitted having some property in his possession, but had no intention of stealing it.

Two charges were preferred against him. The theft of tronmongery, value £28, the property of his former employees, Ernest and George L. Robinson, between January and April, and the theft of locks, keys and bolts, value 9s, the property of John Done, of Ronald Road, Balby.

In the first case it was stated that prosecution were a firm of builders and contractors at Conisborough. Prisoner, who had access to stores, left the firm’s employees owing to illness, giving to a sanatorium at Otley for treatment. During his absence the articles were missed, and when arrested later he told the police that he had no intention of stealing the property.

P. C. Sparrow said that when he visited the prisoner’s house at Denaby his wife produced the property from a toolbox in the pantry. White stated that he took the articles as a matter of convenience to save him going back to the workshop after each fresh job. He kept the things at the house because he believed that he would have his situation back again after he returned from the sanatorium treatment. He added that he had made a mistake and was very sorry.

In the second charge it was stated that prisoner was employed by Mr. Done for one month. The evidence was similar to that in the first case and articles were found by the police officer when he visited the house.

White was bound over for 12 months on the first charge and ordered to pay 1 pound costs. On the second chart he was fined 2 pounds, and told by the bench that his health and domestic circumstances had led then to take a lenient view of a very serious case.